Team Stats

Field Goal %

Rebounds

Assists

Turnovers

Pts off Turnovers

2nd Chance Pts

Pts in the Paint

Fastbreak Pts

Bench Pts

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – For the second
straight game, the UC Santa Barbara women's basketball team used a
great defense and a quick offense to jump out to a double-digit
lead in the first half.

The difference on Saturday at the Thunderdome, though, was that
the Gauchos didn't allow their opponent to creep back into the game
in the second half.

After watching a 28-point lead turn into a six-point
differential in Thursday's win over St. Mary's, UCSB kept Loyola
Marymount at a double-digit deficit throughout the afternoon and
won easily, 66-49.

Once UCSB took a 13-3 lead at 13:36 on a free throw from Sweets
Underwood, Santa Barbara kept its double-digit lead the rest of
the way, expanding the distance to as many as 23 points midway
through the second half.

Emilie
Johnson led the way with 21 points – including five
three-pointers – while Nicole
Nesbit had 12 points off the bench and Sweets Underwood had her
third double double in four games with 10 points and 10 boards.

"We set the tone again defensively from the tip and that's going
to win us a lot of games," UCSB head coach Carlene Mitchell said.
"Setting the tone on the defensive end and rebounding."

The win evened Santa Barbara's record at 2-2 while LMU falls to
0-3.

UCSB took a 26-6 lead with 10:13 left after a pair of free
throws from Kirsten
Tilleman and from there LMU was done. The lead swelled to 33-11
on a jumper by Kelsey
Adrian as UCSB shot 43.8 percent in the first half, 46.2
percent in the second half and 44.8 percent for the game.

The Gauchos seemed to do everything right, outrebounding LMU
38-35 and holding the Lions to just 32.7 percent shooting from the
floor. UCSB had 21 second chance points, the Gauchos' quickness and
drive unmatched by LMU throughout the game.

Plus, UCSB limited its turnover total which had been an issue
early in the season. The Gauchos had 13 assists – led by
Johnson's four – to just nine turnovers.

Holding a 35-20 halftime lead, the Gauchos kept LMU at an arm's
distance the rest of the way. Unlike when St. Mary's got as close
as six points on Thursday thanks to a full-court, pressure defense,
UCSB handled LMU well. The Lions never got closer than the halftime
deficit and Johnson's jumper with 12:56 to play gave UCSB a 47-24
lead, putting the game securely into the Gauchos' pocket.

UCSB closes its homestand with a game on Wednesday vs.
Washington. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and tickets are
available by calling 893-UCSB (8272) or by clicking here. The game will be broadcast
live online by
clicking here and in Santa Barbara on AM 990 with the pregame
show starting a half-hour prior to tip-off.